I'm a bit confused about Soyuz MS-02's launch pad.On Gunter's Space Page, where it talks about the Soyuz-FG rocket, it says that Soyuz MS-02 will take off from Site 31/6. However, on russianhalo117's Russian Launch Schedule, it says that Soyuz MS-02 will take off from Site 1/5 (Gagarin's Start). Which pad is more likely?
Where's Shane Kimbrough in the recent photos?
Does that mean Kimbrough has been removed from Soyuz MS-02? I ask that because there was a rumor stating that only two people will fly aboard each Soyuz.
Quote from: longdrivechampion102 on 07/12/2016 11:49 pmI'm a bit confused about Soyuz MS-02's launch pad.On Gunter's Space Page, where it talks about the Soyuz-FG rocket, it says that Soyuz MS-02 will take off from Site 31/6. However, on russianhalo117's Russian Launch Schedule, it says that Soyuz MS-02 will take off from Site 1/5 (Gagarin's Start). Which pad is more likely?What kind of modifications are needed to adapt the launch gantries at Site 31/6 to accommodate the Soyuz MS payload fairing at the same time as the bigger Soyuz 2-xx´s ?
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 07/13/2016 12:06 amQuote from: longdrivechampion102 on 07/12/2016 11:49 pmI'm a bit confused about Soyuz MS-02's launch pad.On Gunter's Space Page, where it talks about the Soyuz-FG rocket, it says that Soyuz MS-02 will take off from Site 31/6. However, on russianhalo117's Russian Launch Schedule, it says that Soyuz MS-02 will take off from Site 1/5 (Gagarin's Start). Which pad is more likely?All Soyuz MS were originally planned to fly via Soyuz 2.1A, thus still to the present time can only fly from 31/6. Baikonur Soyuz-FG can fly from both. It is extremely likely that Gunter did not update his page when the mission switched launcher versions unless he is aware of newly scheduled maintenance activities or the scheduling of the restart of 1/5 pad upgrades to support Soyuz 2 launcher family that have been continuously delayed for going on a decade now.What kind of modifications are needed to adapt the launch gantries at Site 31/6 to accommodate the Soyuz MS payload fairing at the same time as the bigger Soyuz 2-xx´s ?
Quote from: longdrivechampion102 on 07/12/2016 11:49 pmI'm a bit confused about Soyuz MS-02's launch pad.On Gunter's Space Page, where it talks about the Soyuz-FG rocket, it says that Soyuz MS-02 will take off from Site 31/6. However, on russianhalo117's Russian Launch Schedule, it says that Soyuz MS-02 will take off from Site 1/5 (Gagarin's Start). Which pad is more likely?All Soyuz MS were originally planned to fly via Soyuz 2.1A, thus still to the present time can only fly from 31/6. Baikonur Soyuz-FG can fly from both. It is extremely likely that Gunter did not update his page when the mission switched launcher versions unless he is aware of newly scheduled maintenance activities or the scheduling of the restart of 1/5 pad upgrades to support Soyuz 2 launcher family that have been continuously delayed for going on a decade now.
Quote from: ace5 on 08/17/2016 10:04 pmQuote from: russianhalo117 on 07/13/2016 12:06 amQuote from: longdrivechampion102 on 07/12/2016 11:49 pmI'm a bit confused about Soyuz MS-02's launch pad.On Gunter's Space Page, where it talks about the Soyuz-FG rocket, it says that Soyuz MS-02 will take off from Site 31/6. However, on russianhalo117's Russian Launch Schedule, it says that Soyuz MS-02 will take off from Site 1/5 (Gagarin's Start). Which pad is more likely?All Soyuz MS were originally planned to fly via Soyuz 2.1A, thus still to the present time can only fly from 31/6. Baikonur Soyuz-FG can fly from both. It is extremely likely that Gunter did not update his page when the mission switched launcher versions unless he is aware of newly scheduled maintenance activities or the scheduling of the restart of 1/5 pad upgrades to support Soyuz 2 launcher family that have been continuously delayed for going on a decade now.What kind of modifications are needed to adapt the launch gantries at Site 31/6 to accommodate the Soyuz MS payload fairing at the same time as the bigger Soyuz 2-xx´s ?no change needed to the gantries for the payload fairing. 1/5 can currently only fly analog rockets, whereas 31/6 can fly all present Soyuz rocket versions as the pad is equiped with both analog an digital systems. The 1/5 gantries and pad would need a complete rebuild and digital modernization to support Soyuz-2 family as the older electrical, data and communication systems are incompatible and to slow to function correctly with the new. The gantries would need to be widened to support the fairings used by larger payloads and those requiring Volga and Fregat-M upper stages. Since the decision to build Vostochny and the outlash of certain CIS and former CIS nations this project has been heavily slowed down because Baikonur is outside the Russian Federation and the current executive administration of the Russian Federation has frozen the projects in nations that complain and have conflicts with Russia. I can go into detail in a PM so that we are not tying up server space because of this thread.
Quote from: longdrivechampion102 on 08/17/2016 01:45 amDoes that mean Kimbrough has been removed from Soyuz MS-02? I ask that because there was a rumor stating that only two people will fly aboard each Soyuz.No, it is not a rumor. It is an official proposal by ROSCOSMOS (Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities) and United Rocket and Space Corporation's Subsidiary RSC Energia to the ISS MCB. No, they are still flying three ISS crew members (RS and USOS) a Soyuz until at least no earlier than the first operational commercial crew flights. Otherwise USOS won't have a means of transport or would need three Soyuz at the ISS for the mid-term future. ISS MCB has only just heard the proposal at their last meeting, which was only last week. Now they have set up a joint team to research and fully analyze the proposal and decisions won't be made until at least the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018. An start date is contingent of having Commercial Crew development and testing complete. Russians are occupying the pilot seats (Left (Pilot) and Center (Commander)) and Kimbrough is the right seat (aka the I have no controls and responsibilities except in emergencies seat).
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 08/17/2016 02:52 amQuote from: longdrivechampion102 on 08/17/2016 01:45 amDoes that mean Kimbrough has been removed from Soyuz MS-02? I ask that because there was a rumor stating that only two people will fly aboard each Soyuz.No, it is not a rumor. It is an official proposal by ROSCOSMOS (Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities) and United Rocket and Space Corporation's Subsidiary RSC Energia to the ISS MCB. No, they are still flying three ISS crew members (RS and USOS) a Soyuz until at least no earlier than the first operational commercial crew flights. Otherwise USOS won't have a means of transport or would need three Soyuz at the ISS for the mid-term future. ISS MCB has only just heard the proposal at their last meeting, which was only last week. Now they have set up a joint team to research and fully analyze the proposal and decisions won't be made until at least the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018. An start date is contingent of having Commercial Crew development and testing complete. Russians are occupying the pilot seats (Left (Pilot) and Center (Commander)) and Kimbrough is the right seat (aka the I have no controls and responsibilities except in emergencies seat).I hope that your information is correct, and that this proposal will be subject to a fully considered response from the ISS partners, with an appropriate timeline, and, if adopted, period of transition. However, over on the NK forums, where there have been many dozens of posts on the topic, there are suggestions that this change could be implemented from Mar 2017 (presumably meaning MS-04) and that previously announced crew assignments for next year, will only be finally decided next month.Overall, this proposal looks like very bad news for young cosmonauts from the 2010/2012 cohorts, who's slender chance of flights in the next 3/4 years will virtually disappear, and even the experienced guys who will command the missions wil be reduced to little more than taxi drivers.There is also comment elsewhere, that with so few future flights, cosmonauts, instructors and other experienced staff will drift away from the Russian space industry.I suppose the empty seats will end up being filled by tourists, or maybe paying guests, from friendly nations but overall, it seems like a pretty sad state of affairs
